A villa reborn

For many of us, there’s that one house we always admire. For John and Camilla McLean, that house was a weathered 1911 villa in Havelock that had long since seen better days.

Words: Adrienne Matthews | Photos: Aimée Preston

Living in the town since 2006, their early morning walks often found them slowing down outside it. “We wanted to buy it because there was something special about it,” says Camilla. When it finally came up for auction, fortune smiled on them. No one else turned up that day, and the McLeans became the proud owners of a home brimming with history, full of potential, but requiring a ton of work to realize it.

John had done his homework and knew that the foundations were sound, the doors opened smoothly, and despite the villa’s faded state, it was a risk worth taking. The first step was simply to reveal the house again. Years of overgrown trees and shrubs had smothered it, so they hired an arborist to cut back the greenery and local contractors, G.R. Lawrence, to remove fallen fences and dilapidated sheds. “It was only once the garden and grounds were cleared that we could really see what we had,” Camilla recalls.

Fortunately, the house had been re-piled previously, but the roof was in bad shape. “It was a relief to get that done so we could keep the damp out,” explains John.

The renovation then began in earnest. The couple knew that charm alone would not make a comfortable home. Villas are notorious for being chilly, and warmth was a top priority. “We were lucky,” says John. “All the original wallpaper, hessian, and Rimu sarking were still in place, so we had a clean canvas to work with.”

They stripped back the layers, insulated the walls, and reinstalled the sarking before lining with GIB. Meanwhile, electricians rewired the home, adding sockets in practical places. Every window was replaced with double glazing, instantly transforming the draughty rooms into snug spaces fit for modern living.

Preserving the villa’s character for John and Camilla was non-negotiable. Even the stained-glass windows were given a new life. Viridian Blenheim took on the challenge of creating double-glazed stained glass for the front door and bay window, a process they had never attempted before. “We were so chuffed,” Camilla says. “It kept the soul of the villa but gave us the warmth we needed.”

Up in the attic, insulation was added, but only after Camilla endured the less glamorous task of clearing rat nests and decades of debris. Beneath the house, Expol insulation and a moisture membrane created a dry, stable base.

With the essentials complete, the couple could finally turn to enhancements. Fresh paint has breathed new life into both the interior and exterior, and a wood-burning fire with a wet-back system was added. Ten solar panels soon followed, cleverly balancing power usage during the seasons. The fire heats the water in winter, the panels in summer, with only $50 per month now spent on electricity.

The kitchen boasts a unique splashback thanks to John and Camilla’s visit to Brayshaw Park where they spied photographs of Havelock taken in 1910 and 1911. “They were taken from the same spot,” explains Camilla. “In the first one there was no house and in the second, there it was. We had one blown up and put behind glass as a feature.”

A lover of red, she has added splashes of it in the appliances.

One of the villa’s crowning features is its expansive conservatory along the northern side, which was added to the original building. Flooded with light and offering sweeping views across Havelock and down to the water, it has become the McLeans’ favourite retreat. “You can see the tide coming in and out,” Camilla says. “It’s beautiful at any time of the year.”

The conservatory opens onto a large entertainment area, with Kwila decking and a covered barbecue and dining space, perfect for gatherings with family and friends.

As well as having great vision, the McLeans are very practical and thought about everything else the property needed. They added a double garage and workshop, enclosed carport with through-doors for firewood deliveries, and six sheds. Even rain is no inconvenience thanks to an enclosed, glass-roofed porch providing dry access from the garage to the back door. Such thoughtful additions make life easier in ways only seasoned renovators would think to plan for.

What began as a hidden, almost forgotten house is now a stunning example of how heritage charm can be blended with modern comfort. The McLeans didn’t just restore their villa, they reimagined it, creating a home that is warm, efficient and a beautiful sanctuary where even the garden is now tamed and loved.

Meanwhile, they are onto the next adventure as they depart for a six-month trip to China.